Governor Information and Duties

Forest Hill School has eighteen governors including the head teacher Mr Sullivan.

We represent parents, school staff, the local community and the education authority. We give our time voluntarily, working together to bring a range of outside knowledge and skills to the school. We all support the core values and ethos of the school.

As governors, we are responsible for:

Ensuring the school delivers high quality education to all students.

Recognizing and celebrating the schools strengths.

Monitoring pupil progress and achievement using current data.

Supporting the head teacher and senior leadership team in identifying where the school is not performing as well as it could, and challenging them where necessary.

Overseeing the school budget including pupil premium funding.

Appointing the head teacher.

Monitoring and evaluating the funding and provision within the school for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Access arrangements for public examinations for SEN students.

We work together as a team with shared responsibilities – Governors never make decisions on their own, nor do they act as individuals.

The full governing board, chaired by Dr. John Perry, meets twice a term. Our clerk Karen O’Brien distributes the agenda, takes the minutes and ensures we are complying with our statutory requirements.

The most recently elected parent/carer governors to join the FGB are:

Mr Clive Caseley Dr Helen Charman Ms Zoe Camenzuli

Keith Knox

Vice Chair/Learning and Achievement Committee Chair

I joined the Governing Body at Forest Hill School in 2012 and have since become Vice Chair and Chair of the Learning and Achievement Committee. My son Matthew was a pupil at the school and I am a passionate supporter at a time when all schools in London are finding it difficult to maintain their drive for excellence due to a lack of finance.
My working career has largely been spent in International Aid where I have travelled to many countries in the developing world have and seen how resources spent on educating children from an early age can bring huge economic benefits to local communities.
Since my retirement, I have become a Trustee and Director for the Charity ‘River Thames Boat Project’ and I also teach Key Stage Two children about the Thames on the Venturer as part of our “School on the River” programme.

Dr John Perry

Chair of Governors

I have chaired the Governing Body since September 2016 with two sons benefitting from Forest Hill School’s broad curriculum and community ethos (attending Year 7-13), and a daughter attending the Sixth Form (Year 12-13).

My particular interests are strengthening school governance and ensuring appropriate response to individuals’ Special Education Needs and Disabilities. The latter maintains the inclusivity of our school community and ensures all pupils have equal opportunity to progress and achieve to their own potential.

Professionally, I have been a central government civil servant for several decades working on science and equality policies, and on corporate issues of public finance and procurement (including PFI), governance, and personnel.

Keeley Graham

Safeguarding/Pupil Premium Link Governor

My career has largely been in Banking Finance and I was also a School Business Manager for 6 years and Primary school volunteer for over 15 years.

I passionately believe that education and knowledge coupled with aspirational teaching and parental engagement are key factors in unlocking a young person’s potential. I look forward to making a valid contribution at the school to this end.

Andrew Guy

Co-opted Governor

I’m a co-opted governor and joined the governing body in early 2017. I’ve been a governor of a feeder junior school for 8 years, two of these as chair. I also have a son at the school.

Judith Ralphs

Safeguarding Governor

As a parent governor, I have three boys in the school including twins. This role gives me the opportunity to contribute to the school’s development and strategy to ensure the progress and achievement of all our young people thus giving them the best start in life. As a public health professional, I believe this supports the wellbeing and social cohesion of us all and our communities.

Petrine MacDonald

Link Governor for SFH6/Learning and Achievement Committee

I teach at a local infant school and have spent a number of years researching the effects of technical change on the training and education needs of labour markets. I have continued as a co-opted governor because I strongly support the school’s core values and believe Forest Hill students leave as well-educated, adaptable young people with developed skills and confidence.

Beki Bateson

Premises and H&S Link Governors

I currently run LIFT, an international performance festival that takes place across London and having always worked in the charity sector I understand the value of volunteer governance. I have been on boards of various charities and I have lived in Sydenham for nearly 15 years. As a busy working parent heading in to town every day I enjoy the connection to my local area through supporting the school.

Tracey Gration

Resources Committee

I was appointed an Associate Governor in May 2017. I have spent the last 23 years of my career in financial services regulation, working both for the financial services regulator and for large insurance companies. My roles have involved me driving high standards of governance within businesses, ensuring boards and committees are working effectively, preparing for regulatory inspections and addressing any reports and actions from regulator visits as well as running departments and ensuring budgets set are met efficiently and effectively.

I believe that by providing young people with a great education they can develop and grow and have the skills they need to achieve their goals and ambitions in life.

David King

Link Governor for SFH6/Learning and Achievement Committee

I am an associate governor, having originally served as a parent governor for four years, and am a member of the SEND and Learning & Achievement committees. My background is in community and sports development and I currently work as a teacher and safeguarding lead officer within London South East Colleges. I have a strong attachment to the school as I attended Forest Hill as a pupil for five years, and my three sons also attended here.

Stuart Livingstone

I am a music teacher and staff governor at Forest Hill School. I was a student at the school and have been working here for 13 years. I am passionate about Forest Hill School and I work hard to promote FHS in the wider community. I work closely with staff to develop their skills in the classroom and I support the leadership team in the process of constant quality assurance and school improvement. Currently I am working closely with the re-launched Friends of Forest Hill to raise money for the benefit of the students.

Russell Ockwell

Resources Committee

My skills background is primarily in IT and catering and I have been a parent governor for more than four years. I have seen the school face many tough challenges and am passionate about making sure the children get the best education possible.
I will challenge and support the school in their quest to become an outstanding school.

GOVERNING BODY STRUCTURE

18 governor places (Reconstituted March 2015)

Headteacher 1

Staff 1

Appointed by the London Borough of Lewisham 1

Elected parents of pupils attending the school 6

Co-opted 9

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

Learning and Achievement Committee – Chair – Keith Knox

Resources Committee – Chair – Tracey Gration

Pupil Discipline Committee– Drawn from a pool of governors as appropriate